Alaska Air Group reports February 2019 operational results

SEATTLE, March 14, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Air Group Inc. today reported February operational results on a consolidated basis, for its mainline operations operated by subsidiary Alaska Airlines Inc. and for its regional flying operated by subsidiary Horizon Air Industries Inc. and third-party regional carriers SkyWest Airlines and Peninsula Airlines, a subsidiary of RAVN Air.

As a result of unusual winter weather in the Pacific Northwest in the month of February, our operation experienced significant challenges. Impacts of the storm are reflected in the operational results as shown below.

AIR GROUPOn a combined basis for all operations, Air Group reported a 2.0 percent decrease in traffic on a 1.9 percent decrease in capacity compared to February 2018. Load factor decreased 0.1 points to 79.3 percent.

The following table shows the operational results for February and year-to-date, compared to the prior-year periods:

February

Year-to-Date

2019

2018

Change

2019

2018

Change

Revenue passengers (000)

3,130

3,229

(3.1)%

6,526

6,571

(0.7)%

Revenue passenger miles RPM (000,000) "traffic"

3,702

3,778

(2.0)%

7,772

7,750

0.3%

Available seat miles ASM (000,000) "capacity"

4,668

4,758

(1.9)%

9,951

9,994

(0.4)%

Passenger load factor

79.3%

79.4%

(0.1) pts

78.1%

77.5%

0.6 pts

MAINLINEMainline reported a 4.1 percent decrease in traffic on a 3.7 percent decrease in capacity compared to February 2018. Load factor decreased 0.3 points to 79.4 percent. Mainline also reported 68.0 percent of its flights arrived on time in February 2019, compared to 84.3 percent reported in February 2018.

The following table shows mainline operational results for February and year-to-date, compared to the prior-year periods:

February

Year-to-Date

2019

2018

Change

2019

2018

Change

Revenue passengers (000)

2,370

2,531

(6.4)%

4,912

5,126

(4.2)%

RPMs (000,000)

3,321

3,462

(4.1)%

6,968

7,105

(1.9)%

ASMs (000,000)

4,184

4,345

(3.7)%

8,899

9,113

(2.3)%

Passenger load factor

79.4%

79.7%

(0.3) pts

78.3%

78.0%

0.3 pts

On-time arrivals as reported to U.S. DOT

68.0%

84.3%

(16.3) pts

74.5%

85.7%

(11.2) pts

REGIONALRegional traffic increased 20.6 percent on a 17.2 percent increase in capacity compared to February 2018. Load factor increased 2.2 points to 78.7 percent. Alaska's regional partners also reported 65.3 percent of flights arrived on time in February 2019, compared to 85.3 percent in February 2018.

The following table shows regional operational results for February and year-to-date, compared to the prior-year periods:

February

Year-to-Date

2019

2018

Change

2019

2018

Change

Revenue passengers (000)

760

698

8.9%

1,614

1,445

11.7%

RPMs (000,000)

381

316

20.6%

804

645

24.7%

ASMs (000,000)

484

413

17.2%

1,052

881

19.4%

Passenger load factor

78.7%

76.5%

2.2 pts

76.4%

73.2%

3.2 pts

On-time arrivals as reported to U.S. DOT

65.3%

85.3%

(20.0) pts

74.1%

85.8%

(11.7) pts

Alaska Airlines and its regional partners fly 44 million guests a year to more than 115 destinations with an average of 1,200 daily flights across the United States and to Mexico, Canada and Costa Rica. With Alaska and Alaska Global Partners, guests can earn and redeem miles on flights to more than 900 destinations worldwide. Learn about Alaska's award-winning service at newsroom.alaskaair.com and blog.alaskaair.com. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK).